Conveyor trough structure



Jan. 7, 1964 G. H. sTRAM coNvEYoR TRoUGH STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24. 1961 GEORGE H. STRAM. UM@

Aflorney Jan. 7, 1964 G. H. s'rRAM 3,115,824

coNvEYoR TRouGH STRUCTURE Filed May 24, 1961 v 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. Fg.5 Fig. 7 B GEORGE H. sTRAM Attorney United States Patent C) 3,116,324 CNVPEYR 'lllBiJGlil STRUCTURE George ll'. Strain, Helium, Pa., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Baller Perkins lne., New York, NX., a corporation of New Filed May 24E, 196i, Ser. No. 112,355

7 Claims. (El. wil-2M) This invention relates to conveying means and more particularly to conveying means having parallel transversely spaced endless conveyor elements for moving articles therealong.

lt is a primary object of the invention to provide conveying means of the above type which is particularly well adapted for us-e in bakeries and the like, for conveying pans along a conveyor or a system of end to end related conveyors with a minimum of jarring, which is an important fea-ture, particularly when the conveyor or conveyor system is em; loyed for transporting straps olf pans containing raised dough.

Another object is to provide in such conveying means novel support and guide means for the loa-d supporting run and preferably also the return run of the endless conveyor elements whereby the conveying means handles the pans gently `and subjects them to a minimum of jarring. A related object is to provide such support and guide means with means .vhereby they may be formed in short lengths for convenience in storage, shipping and handling and which can be assembled in the field in exact alignment.

Another object is to provide guide supports for the endless conveyor elements wherein the parts in contact with the endless conveyor elements are easily replaceable and provide for operation of the endless conveyor elements with a minimum of friction and noise.

A further object is to provide novel conveying means which is of open construction and wherein the component parts thereof are formed to eliminate or minimize surfaces on which crumbs or dirt can collect in order to provide a maximum f of sanitation.

Another object is to provide a conveyor of the aforementioned type having laterally spaced pan guides formed of a plurality of flexibly connected sections that are manually adjustable without the use of :tools relative to each ot Vr and with respect to the pans to vary the spacing between the guides at opposite sides of the pans at differ ent locations longitudinally of the conveyor.

Another object is to provide conveyors of the aforementioned type formed of elements that are easily assembled in the field, and are `adapted to be worked on in the field by comparatively simple tools to permit adapting and erecting of the conveyors to the exact length that the space and other factors met with in the field dictate.

@ther objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of construction, arrange-ment and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings showing exemplary embodiment of the invention. lieferring to the drawings:

FlGURE l is a view in side elevation of a conveyor embodying the invention with the end portions of connectin g conveyors at lthe terminal ends thereof;

FlGUY-l 2 is a top plan view of the adjacent ends of two conveyors of the conveying system;

FEGURE 3 is `an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FiGUPlE l showing one side of the conveyor, it being understood that the opposite side of the conveyor is of similar construction;

lilGUlE 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of PlGURE 3 with parts broken away showing t-he connection between llfl Patented dan. '3, 1954 rice the adjacent end portions of two sections of the guide support for one of the endless conveyor chains;

FGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on line '5 5 of FlfGURE 3 showing the connection between the adjacent end por-tions of two sections of one of the pan guides, parts being shown in elevation;

FGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of FlGURE 2, parts being shown in elevation; and

FlGURB 7 is an exploded enlarged View of the coneyor chain guide support and bearing therefor.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the conveying system includes a plurality of end to end related conveyors, one conveyor being shown at ll) with the adjacent end portions of communica-ting conveyors being shown at l2 and i4. Such conveyors may be of considerable length and a number of such conveyors may be connected in end to end relation as, for example, in commercial bakeries for transporting pans from and to various pieces of equipment such as proofers and ovens. lt is desirable `to handle the pans during transportation thereof in as smooth and gentle a manner as possible, particularly in the case of pans of proofed dough, since jarring thereof frequently causes collapse of the proofcd dough resulting in a poor or unsalable loaf of bread.

The conveyor system includes support frames i6, i3 and 2% for the respective conveyors il?, l2 and 14, that may be formed of pipe and pipe fittings, as illustrated, or similar structural members to provide the necessary support for the conveyors yand operating mechanism therefor. The adjacent ends off the support frames lo, i8 and Zd are spaced yapart and are rigidly connected, as hereinter described, by pairs of parallel laterally spaced vertical plates 22 and 2d spanning the space between the adjacent ends or" the support frames lo, it and 2i?.

Each of the frames le, l and 2@ includes a pair of oppositely disposed laterally spaced parallel side rails 26 and 2S, and transversely extending forward and rearward end rails 3b and 32. FIGURES l and 2 show the conveyor itl and adjacent end portions o-f lthe conveyors l2 and le. ln the following description, the construction and arrangement of elements between the communicating ends of the conveyors will be described with particular reference to conveyors lll and le, it being understood that the construction and arrangement of elements cetween the conveyors lil and l2 is similar in character.

Referring particularly to FGURE 2, the rearward ends of side rails Ze and 2d of the frame i6 are received in pipe fittings 34- and 3o provided with flanges 33 and it? engaging the outer surfaces, respectively, of the plates 22 and 24 proximate their forward end portions. In similar manner, the forward ends of side rails 2e and 23 of the frame Ztl are received in pipe fittings 42 and 44 provided with flanges do and i8 engaging the outer surfaces, respectively, of the plates 22 and 24 proximate their rearward end portions.

The opposite ends of the rearward end rail 32 of frame le are provided with flanges 5t) and 52, respectively engaging the inner surfaces of plates 22, and 24 `and regisering with the ilanges 33 and lill. Suitable means such as bolts, not shown, extending through the flanges All), 52 and lthe plate 24, and through the flanges 38, Sil and the plate Z2 provide a rigid connection between the frame lo and the plates 22 and 2d. ln similar manner, the opposite ends of the forward end rail 3d of frame 2li are provided with the flanges 54 and Se, respectively engaging the inner surfaces of plates 22 and 24 and registering with the anges lo and 4S. Bolts or other suitable means, not shown, extending through the anges 46, 54 and the plate 22 and through the flanges 4S, 56 and the plate 54, provide a rigid connection between the frame Ztl and the plates ZZ and 2d.

The frames 16, 18 and 20 also include legs Se for supporting the conveyors in spaced relation above the fioor. The legs 5S are preferably in the form of pipes, the upper ends of which are received in pipe fittings 6i? that are secured in `any suitable manner to the plates 22 and 24 directly beneath the pipe fittings in which the ends of the frame side rails 26 and 2S are received.

Where the conveyors are of considerable length, referring particularly to conveyor 10, the side rails 26 and 28 of the frame 16 may be made up of a plurality of sections connected by suitable fittings, for convenience in storage, shipping and assembly. As best shown in FIGURE 2, a T-fitting 62 connects sections 26 and 26 of side rail 26 and a T-iitting 64 connects sections 28 and 28 of side rail 28, with the T-ttings 62 and 64 also connecting an intermediate cross rail 66 of the frame `16. Depending on the length of the conveyors, it is evident that any desired number of side rail sections and intermediate cross rails may be connected in similar manner. Again depending on the length of the conveyors, certain of the fittings connecting the side rail sections and intermediate cross rails may be of the side outlet T-tting type, indicated at 68 in FIGURE 1 for receiving intermediate support legs, such as 70.

Referring7 particularly to conveyor 10, the means for moving pans therealong in the direction indicated by arrow 7.1 includes a pair of parallel laterally spaced longitudinally extending endless chain belts 72 disposed between the side rails 26 and 28 of the frame 16, with the upper runs thereof being disposed above the end and intermediate cross rails 3), 32 and 66 and the lower runs thereof being disposed below the end and intermediate cross rails 3), 32 and 66. The endless chain belts 72 are trained over front sprockets 74 and rear sprockets 76, as best shown in FIGURE 2. One of the rear sprockets 76 is shown in FIGURE 6 keyed on a transversely extending shaft 73, it being understood that the other of the rear sprockets 76 is similarly keyed on the shaft 78.

The shaft 7S is disposed midway between the adjacent ends of the frames 16 and 2t), one end thereof being rotatably mounted in a bearing 80 secured to the inner surface of the plate 24 and the other end thereof extending through the plate 22 and mounted in a gear reduction unit 82 carried by the outer surface of the plate 22. The operating means for the shaft 7S includes an electric motor 84 suitably mounted :for vertical adjustment on a mounting plate 86 secured to the frame connecting plate 22 and depending therefrom between the adjacent ends of frames 16 `and 2G. Power is transmitted from electric motor S4 to the gear reduction unit 82 by suitable means such, for example, as a vari-speed pulley drive 88.

The conveyor 14 is also provided with a pair of laterally spaced endless chain belts 90, trained over front sprockets 92 which are mounted to idle on shaft 78 and are laterally offset with respect to the sprockets 76. Thus, not only is a simplified arrangement provided for the transfer of pans from conveyor 1) to conveyor l14, but with the overlapping of the adjacent ends of the conveyor chain belts '72 and 90 a smooth transfer of pans from one conveyor to the other is accomplished, and since through the arrangement above described, the conveyors 16 and 14 can also be independently driven at relatively different speeds, the spacing between successive pans transferred from conveyor to conveyor 14 can be increased or decreased at will.

The construction and arrangement of elements between the adjacent ends of conveyors `10 and 12 is the same as that between the adjacent ends of conveyors 10 and 14, described above, and is therefore not described in detail. It should be noted that the front sprocke-ts 74 of the conveyor 10 are arranged to idle on the shaft 94 just as the `front sprockets 92 of the conveyor 14 are arranged to idle on shaft 78, and rear sprockets 96 of conveyor 12 are keyed on shaft 94 juts as the rear sprockets 76 of conveyor 10 are keyed on shaft 73, so that conveyor 4 12 may be operated independently of conveyor 10 and at relatively different speeds. I

Referring particularly to conveyor 10, though applicable also to conveyors 12 and 1li, a guide support 98 1s provided for the upper load supporting run of each of the chain `belts 72 and preferably a similar guide suppoit 190 for the lower return run of each of the chain belts 72, whereby to provide for smooth conveyance of the pans by the conveyor 10. The guide supports 98 and 160 are supported from the end and intermediate cross rails 30, 32 and 66 in a manner hereinafter described and extend from points adjacent `front sprockets 74- to points adjacent rear sprockets 76.

The guide supports 98 and 100 are identical in construction and, in describing one of the guide supports 98, it will be understood that it applies to all of the guide supports and the same reference characters are employed in designating similar elements of the various guide supports.

The guide support 98 is in the form of an elongated extrusion preferably of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. As best shown in FGURES 3 and 7, the upper portion of the guide support 98 is in the form of an upwardly opening chain belt receiving shallow channel extending the length of the guide support 98 and defined by a flat bottom wall 162 and upwardly extending side walls 104 on opposed sides of the bottom wall `162. The upper edges of side walls 194 have integrally `formed therewith laterally outwardly projecting Ibeads 166, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. integrally formed with the channel bottom wall 102 midway between the opposed sides thereof and extending the full length thereof is a vertical depending strengthening rib 108, the lower end of which has a tubular enlargement integrally formed therewith.

A channel shaped bearing 112 is arranged to be seated in the channel portion of the guide support 98, with its bottom wall 1-14 and side walls 116 closely fitting the' corresponding ybottom and side walls 162 and 104 of the channel portion of the guide support 98. The upper ends of the bearing side walls 116 are provided with rolledover edges 118 adapted to snap over the beads 105 upon insertion of the bearing 112 in the channel portion of the guide support 93, to retain it in place. The channel shaped bearing 112 is formed of a synthetic organic plastic such as nylon which is relatively hard to give a good bearing surface for the chain belts 72, that is simple to install or replace, and that provides for quiet operation and requires no lubrication.

The guide supports 98 and `100 are rigidly but adjust'-l ably supported `from the end and intermediate cross rails 3), 32 and 66 of the frame 16 by means of brackets 120. One such bracket is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 adjustably secured to the intermediate cross rail 66, it being understood that similar brackets `for supporting the guide supports are also secured on the end rails 30, 32 and on all the intermediate cross rails.

The bracket 120 includes upper and lower arcuate split clamp members 122 and `124 embracing the cross rail 66 and to which they are adjustably secured by means of bolts 126 extending through the flanges 128 and 130 of the clamp members 122 and 124. The upper clamp member 122 has integrally formed therewith an upwardly and laterally curving support arm 132 provided at its free end with a flange l134 engageable with the side face of the rib 103 of the upper guide support 98. Bolts 136 extending through the flange 134 and rib`l08 rigidly secure the upper guide support 98 to the bracket 120. In similar manner, a downwardly and laterally curving support arm 138 formed with lower clamp member 124 is provided at its free end with a flange 140 engaging the side face of the rib l163 of the lower guide support 100, with Ibolts 142 extending through flange 140 and rib 163 for rigidly securing the lower guide support 98 to the bracket 126.

For convenience in storage, shipping and assembly the guide supports are formed in a plurality of end to endI related sections, the adjacent ends of two of suchl sections ot the guide support 98 being shown in FIGURE 4 at 9d and 93". A dowel 144 is snugly receivable in the tubular enlargement lilll at the adjacent ends of the guide support sections 9d and 98", it being understood that a similar arrangement is provided between all lthe sections of the guide supports 93 and 'will for the purpose of properly aligning the guide support sections upon erecting of the conveyor in the iield. Preferably, though not necessarily, the lengths of the sections of the guide supports are such that the bracket flanges 134 and 140 overlap the adjacent end portions of the guide support sections, as best shown in FGURE 4.

in order to provide a ixed path for movement of the pans and 'to locate the pan sets so that the bottoms of the pans of the pan sets are engaged by the chain belts 72, longitudinally extending oppositely disposed side guide rails are provided which are independently adjustable as hereinafter described in detail. The guide rails 146 comprise a plurality oi sections, such as sections 146o, ifi-db, lie-dc and preferably in the form of pipes flexibly connected at their adjacent ends and supported for adjustment from the side rails 2d and 2S of the conveyor frames lo, il@ and 2d in a manner hereinafter described in detail. One ot such flexible connections and support means is disclosed in detail in FIGURES 3 and 5, and the following description thereof applies to all of the flexible connections and support means.

The pan guide support includes a support member M8 provided with a pair of arcuate split clamp members l5@ and SZ embracing the trame side rail 2d and to which they are adjustably secured by means oi bolts 154 extending through the anges l5@ and i558 of the clamp members l5@ and 31.532. rojecting laterally from the clamp member ldd are a pair of ilat clamp plates lo@ and 162, disposed in transverse vertical planes, the clamp plate 162 being integrally formed with the clamp member and the clamp plate ldd being formed as a separate but associated part the coi,

An upright pan guide supporting post iti/l is flexibly connected at its lower end with the clamp plates i60, MS2 and flexibly connected at its upper end with the adjacent ends of pan guide sections Moa and ldb in a manner hereinafter described. The shank lo@ of the supporting post led has a lower i'lat disc-like portion 16S and an upper internally threaded tubular portion l'tl. The discilre portion i653 is disposed between the clamp plates 16) and 162 and separated therefrom by vulcanized liber washers 72 or other suitable friction material.

A bolt E74 extends through an opening 1176 in the clamp plates and lait, disc-like shank portion 168, and the washers 172, and on its threaded projecting end portion is threaded a hand wheel li''ii. By turning hand wheel Ud the clamp plate ldd, disc-like shank portion lo@ and the washers 172 are drawn tightly together and against the clamp plate 162 so that shank portion E68 is normally frictionally retained in position, but is capable of being turned about the axis of the bolt i715 to any one or a number of adjusted positions by exerting manual pressure thereagainst.

The upper portion of the pan guide supporting post 16dis T-shaped, including an upright rod shaped portion 13) having its lower end threadable into the internally threaded tubular portion i7@ of the shank los, and a short rod shaped cross piece 31.82. The cross piece m2 has reduced end portions i3d of smaller outside diameter than the inside diameter of the tubular guide rail pipe sections leida and Edel), so as to be insertable in the adjacent ends ol the pipe sections lil-da and Mob with considerable clearance therebetween. A jam nut 186 threaded on the threaded lover end of the upright rod-shaped portion llil ot the supporting post ldd is arranged to engage the upper end of the shank led to prevent turning of the upright rod-shaped portion i3d when in adjusted position.

til-rings or suitable yieldable material embrace the reduced end portions 134 of the cross piece 182 and take up the clearance between the reduced end portions lt and the adjacent end portions of the pipe sections Moa and Mob, thereby preventing relative radial displacement therebetween but permitting angular movement between the cross piece lSZ and the pipe sections iddo and ldd/1 limited only by the clearance between the reduced end portions ld and the pipe sections 146o and Mob and the depth of their engagement.

From the above description it will be evident that by merely applying manual pulling or pushing torce against the cross piece 182 of the pan guide supporting post idd, the adjacent ends of the pan guide sections iden and iddo can be swung toward or away from the conveyor chain belts 7?., and the similar connections between the other sections oi the pan guides idd may be manipulated in like manner so that the pan guides may be adjusted without the use or tools. It is further evident that sections of the pan guides may be laterally offset with respect to other sections thereof to centrally locate and guide the pans as they move from the chain belts '72 of one conveyor, as conveyor lil, to the odset chain belts 72 o another conveyor, as conveyor ld.

Nnile the invention has been described above with particular reference to pan conveyors for bakeries and especially to conveyors for handling pans of prooied dough, it will be apparent that it is equally adapted for the conveyance of other articles. lt will also be apparent that sections of the conveyor system may be in the orm of 9() or 180 degree turns without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Each of the conveyors is shown and described as comprising a pair of laterally spaced endless chain belts and supports `for the runs thereof, however, it is obvious that it may frequently be found desirable to provide additional similar intermediate endless chain belts and supports therefor.

I claim:

l. Article conveying means including a frame, an endless conveyor supported by said irame, a longitudinally extending article guide rail along each side of said endless conveyor, each of said guide rails including a plurality of end to end related guide rail sections, a plurality or" upright guide support posts, means at one end of each of said guide support posts iiexibly connecting the adjacent ends of a pair of end to end related guide rail sections, a plurality of brackets, one for each of said guide support posts, secured to said frame, said brackets having mounting means for supporting the opposite ends of said guide support posts including a pivotal connection for swinging said guide support posts in a plane transverse with respect to said longitudinally extending guide rails and clamping means for frictionally retaining said guide support posts in iixed position and being yieldable to manual pressur exerted against said guide support posts tor pivotally swinging them to move any one pair of related ends of said guide rail sections inwardly and outwardly of said endless conveyor independently of any other pair of related ends of said guide rail sections.

2. Article conveying means including a trarne, an endless conveyor supported by said frame, a longitudinally extending article guide rail along each side oi said endless conveyor, each oi said guide rails including a plurality ot hollow tubular sections disposed in end to end spaced relation, a plurality of substantially T -shaped guide support posts, the head of each of said 'l' -shaped guide support posts being disposed between and in abutting end to end relation with the ends of a pair of said hollow tubular guide rail sections and having reduced end portions tting into said hollow tubular guide rail sections with substantial clearance therebetween and O-rings embracing said reduced end portions to provide a pivotal connection between said T-shaped guide support post and said hollow tubular guide rail sections, a plurality oi brackets, one for each of said guide support posts, secured to said frame,

said brackets having mounting means for supporting the opposite ends of said guide support posts including a pivotal connection for swinging said guide support posts in a plane transverse with respect to said longitudinally extending guide rails and clamping means for frictionally retaining said guide support posts in fixed position and being yieldable to manual pressure exerted against said head of said guide support posts for pivotally swinging them to move any one pair of related ends of said guide rail sections inwardly and outwardly of said endless conveyor independently of any other pair of related ends of Said guide rail sections.

3. Article conveying means including a frame, an endless conveyor supported by said frame, a longitudinally extending article guide rail along each side of said endless conveyor, each of said guide rails including a plurality of end to end related guide rail sections, a plurality of upright guide support posts, means at one end of each of said guide support posts flexibly connecting the adjacent ends of a pair of end to end related guide rail sections, a plurality of brackets, one for each of said guide support posts, secured to said frame, each ot said brackets being provided with a pair of cooperating clamp plates one of which is rigid therewith and the other of which is freely associated therewith, a bolt extending through said clamp plates, the opposite end of an upright guide support post being pivotally mounted on said bolt between said clamp plates, and means for drawing said clamp plates and the pivotally mounted end of said guide support post together for frictionally retaining said guide support post in fixed position and being yieldable to manual pressure exerted against said guide su pport posts for pivotal swinging movement of the same to move any one pair of related ends of said guide rail sections inwardly and outwardly of said endless conveyor independently of any other pair of related ends of said guide rail sections.

4. Article conveying means as defined in claim 3, including a Washer of yieldable material disposed between said pivotally mounted end of said guide support posts and each of said cooperating clamp members.

5. Article conveying means including a frame, a pair of laterally spaced endless flexible conveyor elements to directly support said articles, guide supports for the load bearing runs of each of said flexible conveyor elements, means for securing said guide supports to said frame, said guide supports each including an upwardly opening trough shaped elongated element of extruded metal for receiving the load bearing run of an endless flexible conveyor element, the upper edges of the opposed side walls of said trough shaped elements being each provided with an enlarged outwardly projecting longitudinally extending bead, and an elongated upwardly opening trough shaped element of synthetic organic plastic material fitting within said trough shaped elongated extruded metal element to provide a bearing surface for said endless iiexible conveyor element, the upper edges of the opposed side walls of said trough shaped bearing elements being each provided with an outwardly downturned portion arranged to yieldably snap over and bear against a respective bead to resiliently retain said bearing elements in said trough ,shaped metal elements.

6. Article conveying means including a rectangular frame having a pair of transversel spaced lon "'udinally extending frame members and a plurality of transversely' extending trarne members connecting said longitudinally extending frame members at spaced intervals b conveyor run, a rib extending the length of and depending from the trough shaped portion of each of said guide support sections and a hollow tubular enlargement at the free edge of each of said ribs and extending the length thereof, dowel means insertable in the adjacent ends of said hollow tubular enlargements for assembling and retaining said guide support sections in accurate alignment, brackets adjustably mounted on said transversely extending trarne members, said brackets having flanges overl/ing adjacent rib portions of adjacent end to end related guide support sections, and means for securing said adjacent rib portions to said flanges for securing said gui e support sections to said frame in aligned position.

7. Article conveying means including a rectangular frame having a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending frame members and a plurality of transversely extending frame members connecting said longitudinally extending frame members, a pair of laterally spaced endless flexible conveyor elements to directly support said articles on the upper runs thereof, guide supports for the upper and lower runs of each of said endless flexible conveyor elements, each of said guide supports including an upwardly opening trough shaped elongated element for receiving a respective run of said endless flexible conveyor elements and a rib extending the length of and depending from the trough shaped portion of each of said guide supports, a pair of brackets mounted on each of said transversely extending frame members for slidable movement therealong, means for securing said brackets on said transversely extending frame members in any one of a number of laterally adjusted positions, cach of said brackets having an upwardly extending bracket arm and a downwardly extending bracket arm, said upwardly extending bracket arms at their free ends having flanges overlying the ribs of said upper guide supports, said downwardly extending bracket arms at their free ends having flanges overlying the ribs of said lower guide supports, and means for securing said ribs to said flanges whereby adjustment of a bracket effects conjoint adjustment of the guide supports for the upper and lower runs of an endless flexible conveyor element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATEQ PATENTS 653,970 Sollrnann luly i7, 1900 1,857,529 Coppage May l0, 1932 2,229,605 Snyder lan. 2l, 1941 2,747,725 Hatch May 29, 1956 tween the ends thereof, a pair ol laterally spaced endless flexible. les, guide. supports for the load bearing runs of each oi said endless supports incl ding. a plurality of end to end related sections, each including` 

1. ARTICLE CONVEYING MEANS INCLUDING A FRAME, AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING ARTICLE GUIDE RAIL ALONG EACH SIDE OF SAID ENDLESS CONVEYOR, EACH OF SAID GUIDE RAILS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF END TO END RELATED GUIDE RAIL SECTIONS, A PLURALITY OF UPRIGHT GUIDE SUPPORT POSTS, MEANS AT ONE END OF EACH OF SAID GUIDE SUPPORT POSTS FLEXIBLY CONNECTING THE ADJACENT ENDS OF A PAIR OF END TO END RELATED GUIDE RAIL SECTIONS, A PLURALITY OF BRACKETS, ONE FOR EACH OF SAID GUIDE SUPPORT POSTS, SECURED TO SAID FRAME, SAID BRACKETS HAVING MOUNTING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID GUIDE SUPPORT POSTS INCLUDING A PIVOTAL CONNECTION FOR SWINGING SAID GUIDE SUPPORT POSTS IN A PLANE TRANSVERSE WITH RESPECT TO SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GUIDE RAILS AND CLAMPING MEANS FOR FRICTIONALLY RETAINING SAID GUIDE SUPPORT POSTS IN FIXED POSITION AND BEING YIELDABLE TO MANUAL PRESSURE EXERTED AGAINST SAID GUIDE SUPPORT POSTS FOR PIVOTALLY SWINGING THEM TO MOVE ANY ONE PAIR OF RELATED ENDS OF SAID GUIDE RAIL SECTIONS INWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY OF SAID ENDLESS CONVEYOR INDEPENDENTLY OF ANY OTHER PAIR OF RELATED ENDS OF SAID GUIDE RAIL SECTIONS. 